2017 Volume 32 Issue 3 Pages 1162-1167
Objectives: Nutritional status is not adequately maintained in most children with cerebral palsy (CP). One of the reasons is difficulty in determining adequate calorie delivery. Relationship between resting energy expenditure (REE) and body mass index (BMI), and calorie delivery leading to appropriate physical development were investigated in CP children.
Methods: REE was measured with indirect calorimetry in 46 CP children[median, 8 (range, 1~17) years]. The relationship between BMI/age-matched standard ratio and REE per kg/age-matched standard ratio was analyzed. The relationship between calorie delivery and physical development was analyzed in 21 CP children[median, 6 (range, 2~17) years].
Results: BMI/age-matched standard ratio showed a decrease with age. Age-matched standard ratios of BMI and REE per kg showed negative correlation. CP children with BMI/matched standard ratios below 0.83 showed a tendency to have a higher REE per kg compared with the age-matched standard. Calorie delivery/REE ratio and body height/weight changes showed significant positive correlation. Body height and weight Z-scores were maintained almost equally when calorie delivery/REE ratio was 1.18 and 1.08, respectively.
Conclusions: CP children became thinner with age. Thinner CP children had a higher REE per kg compared with the age-matched standard. It was considered that 110% - 120% REE of the initial calorie delivery possibly leads to maintain Z-scores of body height and weight in CP children.
